Wednesday, Feb 19th, Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Greetings!

Well, our ailments are still in full force, but they're not preventing us from being driven around to the places we've scheduled for visits.  Today's menu was an early Jeep safari back into the Yala National Park.  The Park averages 300 jeeps (4-6 passengers each) in groups of 20 vehicles.  Lineup begins at 6am at the park entrance, and experienced Safari drivers are in great demand.  Our tour operator (Indebo) has been doing this for quite a while, and lining up Milan for just the two of us plus Jay was exceptional.  After yesterday's spectacular drive through the Park, we knew that we'd be in good hands.

Riding in the Safari vehicle is not easy.  First, it's so high off the ground that climbing into it takes a ladder.  Second, you better sit at the window, because everyone is constantly looking in every direction to spot whatever they can see, and you want at least one direction without anyone blocking your view.  Again, having the whole cabin to ourselves made that much easier.

Third, sitting face forward is exactly the wrong strategy.  The road is torn up throughout the Park (300 jeeps a day, plus the wear and tear by large animals and floods, can do that to it).  Attempting to position us in the perfect viewing spot, among dozens of competing vehicles, across holes and ruts which will swallow us up, causes us to rock constantly from side to side.  The human body, its skeleton and muscles, is built to bend forward and backward, not side to side.  The best approach is to sit in the middle seats sideways, with your feet bracing against the seat across from you and your arms hanging on for your life.

Toward the end of the morning, we headed for the ocean to finally get to eat the breakfast box the hotel prepared for us at 5am.  We were exhausted, needed the potty break, and I was glad to put my feet on the ground in sand.   I'm always glad to see surf, on any continent.

And Pat asked me to photograph a milkweed flower she had not seen before, which has been my joyous assignment for decades.

After returning to the hotel and checking out, we started a long drive to Mirissa.  It's located just west of the southern most tip of Sri Lamka, where we stopped at exactly that place near a lighthouse.

To see all of the photos taken today, click on Wednesday, Feb 19th, Mirissa, Sri Lanka.